Colombians Find $47,500 Inside Traveler's Stomach

Latin America & Caribbean - In Brief

July 13, 2004

BOGOTA, Colombia -- A Colombian allegedly tried to smuggle thousands of U.S. dollars to Peru inside his stomach, shocking airport police who say smugglers usually hide drugs, not cash, inside their bellies. Bogota airport police Sunday decided to X-ray the suspected smuggler Johnny Chilitobecause he was acting nervous while in the security line. The exam revealed 80 latex packets made from surgical gloves packed inside his stomach, which proved to be filled with $47,500 in cash. Colombian authorities, starting last year, introduced new anti-money-laundering laws that make it more difficult for drug traffickers to send and receive cash.